TRUMBULL COUNTY Sprint adjusts charges in local calling areas

WARREN -- Starting today, Sprint telephone customers in some parts of Trumbull County will no longer pay by the minute when they make calls to neighboring communities. The company is eliminating toll and usage charges on 66 calling routes around the state this month under a plan approved in June by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The change will eventually provide expanded calling areas on 522 calling routes. Local community calling patterns affected in the first phase of the project, to take effect today, are: Berlin Center to Damascus and Salem; Greene to Andover and Kinsman; Hartford to Sharon; and Kinsman to Greene and Jefferson. Customers in the first group of routes affected will receive notification, and their monthly basic service rates will be unchanged. Some other Sprint customers could see a basic service rate increase, if toll charges are eliminated on their calling routes under the PUCO plan, because of the increased size of the local calling area. Sprint charges more to customers who have larger local calling areas. Customers in those areas will be asked to vote on the changes because their basic monthly bill would increase between 45 cents and $1.10. No change will be made if a majority of votes are against it. Warren customers, for example, will be asked to approve a rate increase of $1.10. In exchange, they would be able to call eight more communities toll-free, including Girard, Hubbard and Youngstown.